Dhoni to play T20 charity match for UK armed force

New Delhi: India ODI skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni will extend his support to the British Army by playing in an inaugural T20 cricket match fundraiser, 'Cricket for Heroes' to be held at The Kia Oval, London tomorrow.

Dhoni, who recently completed his training with Indian Army's Elite Para Brigade, will join fellow cricketer Virender Sehwag, Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi and South African ace Herschelle Gibbs in the Help for Heroes XI captained by England Director of Cricket Andrew Strauss and managed by the legendary Sir Ian Botham.

They will take on a Rest of the World XI containing Brendon McCullum, Matthew Hayden, Mahela Jayawardene and Graeme Smith as well as players such as Kiwis Scott Styris and Daniel Vettori.

The team is being coached by Gary Kirsten and managed by the great Indian cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar.

Prior to the match, Dhoni along with other players will be hosted by Michael Fallon, Secretary of State for Defence and David Cameron, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, for a welcome reception and charity dinner in honor of the Help for Heroes foundation.

These global cricket stars will contest the match to raise money for the ongoing support of the sick, injured and seriously wounded British soldiers and their families, with up to 30 per cent being allocated to overseas charities in conjunction with the invited players.